Monday, February 27, 2017

We used to make things in this country. #254: Kuchyt Metal Works, Fort Erie, Ontario


The Kuchyt Metal Works was located in Fort Erie, just across the Niagara River from Buffalo, New York.  The earliest reference I can find is from a 1963 government document that puts them on Petit Road.   There's very little information on the firm, other than that they specialized in front-end loaders in the 1960's, offering just three models.  Gone now, and a puzzle for owners of these implements.  There's no longer even a Petit Road shown on Google Maps for that city.  Eastern Farm Machinery Limited is still a going concern, however.

Below, images snagged from the web:





Update, Jan 2023; A reader sent me pictures of two more products, a different loader and a fork lift.
The fork lift is below. These units were adapted to or built for these Italian-made CAST tractors.






And a loader with a different narrower layout than shown in the catalog.




10 comments:

Unknown said...

Kuchyt Metal Works (KMW) bought out Ark Manufactoring in Sterling Kansas. then Alo Maskiner from Umea Sweden bought out KMW. Later The Bender family in Sterling Kansas bought back rights to KMW. Now the K stands for Kansas Metal Work. The company is still in business and doing well. Selling loader for Agco,JD,Buhler, CASEIH, McCormick,New Holland and more

Miykia said...

Can anyone tell me where these images were sourced? I would love to look in to this farther.

Mister G said...

According to the first comment, (Dale Mercer) the company is still working.Try them?

Anonymous said...

Kuchyt Metal Works (later KMW Products Ltd.) was started by my Grandfather and Father, Charles and James Kuchyt respectively. Grandpa moved to Indiana when I was about 8 years old, but dad continued on with KMW moving it from Pettit road to Wood St. and eventually Helena St., all in Fort Erie Ontario. (And yes, Pettit Rd. is still there, as well as grandpa's small wooden green shop where it all started.) It was a highly successful manufacturing company that specialized in front end lifts and loaders, selling all over the world to companies such as White Farm Equipment, Kubota, Yanmar, Deutz Farm Equipment, etc.

KMW Products branched into Serling Kansas (by I believe merging with a smaller company, but don't quote me as it was years ago. Dad sold off his interest and went into partnership opening another machine shop in Fort Erie, Performance Marine and Machining Ltd., machining safety equipment for a company called Haun Drop Forge out of Welland Ontario, now known as PenSafe. Performance M&M is now making an amazing product for snowmobile studs. Stud Stars, Check them out.

Grandpa is now gone, Dad is retired. But I have to say I really enjoyed seeing these images again. Thank you for sharing.

Mister G said...

Thanks for your contribution! Love to get any and all information. Hopefully we can keep these stories from disappearing.

Unknown said...

I recently purchased a case tractor with a KMW loader if anyone would like photos or videos of it working Id be happy it's all original with identification plate

Mister G said...

Some pictures would be welcomed! Please send to gerald@vanwyngaarden.ca and i'll add them to the blog. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I would loved to see some photos. I'd like to show them to my Dad.... Jim Kuchyt.

Terry Kuchyt

Anonymous said...

Hello, I have a CAST Italian tractor with a forklift made by kuchyt, and just recently picked up another with a front loader by the same company.

Anonymous said...

Terry, send me an email and I can get some.photos for you.